John McCain: important issue in the past and just say we're looking forward to working together on this in the future. madamresident, i yield the floor. a senato the presiding officer: under the previous order, the leader ship time is reserved. under the previous order there will now be a period of morning business until 2:00 p.m. with senators permitted to speak up to 10 minutes each, with the

John McCain: first hour equally divided and controlled between the two leaders and their designees with the republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the majority controlling the second 30 minutes. the senator from arizona. mr. mccain: madam president, i rise to discuss two issues this morning, health care reform, and also the pending supplemental spending bill that, according to

John McCain: news reports does not include the senate language that explicitly allowed president obama to keep photos of abuse during the bush administration confidential. i want to thank my friend, the republican leader from who has shown such impressive

John McCain: leadership on as he describes probably the most important -- domestic issue, certainly, that wi congress. i look forward to working with my colleagues over the next few weeks on legislation reforming our current health care america is looking to congress to enact health care legislation that's provides all americans

John McCain: affordable access to health insurance and the ability to choose the healt policy that fits each american's need. just yesterday it was reported that 62% of americans support congress enact overhaul of the health care

John McCain: system according to a diego poll. i believe health care should be available to all and not limited to how much money you make. i believe competion should be used to provide the availablity person's needs. i believe american families, not washington bureaucrats or

John McCain: insurance companies, should be in charge of any health care decision. but i don't believe that we need to expand government's bureaucracy or to control one-sixth of our economy to ensure that the uninsured get health coverage. nor do i believe that americans should be asked to pay more in

John McCain: taxes to cover the costs of any comprehensive health care reform legislation. journal" stated -- quote -- "the democrats need the money to finance $1.2 trillion or more entitlement. a sampler of ideas end or limit the tax exempt status of charitable hospitals or make

John McCain: college students in work programs subject to the payroll tax. also targeted are medical residents perhaps on the principle that one day they'll be rich doctors." i agree that any real health care reform proposal must address the treatment of

John McCain: employer provided health insurance, but not in a way that forces more known the federal government particularly in these difficult economic times. today individuals who receive health insurance through their employer are not taxed on their health care benefits, as we know. however, those who purchase

John McCain: receive such a tax break. that's unfair and regressive. it hits those who need the tax break the most. the self-employed or working poor whose employer does not offer health to offset the taxable treatment of this income, i believe americans should have funds returned to them to a-- assist with the cost of acquiring

John McCain: health insurance. this treats individuals equally in stark contrast to the system we currently have. key to any proposal is policy that allows people to have accessible, portable, and affordable coverage. policy shoul hear from americans everywhere i go, choice. americans want choice.

John McCain: they want choices from their doctors, care, coverage, and employment freedom. freedom to seek employment that is not dependent on whether an employer provides insurance coverage or not. this is particularly important in today's difficult economic times when americans are uncertain about whether they'll have a job tomorrow.

John McCain: some, including the president, criticize this approach. however, "the w york times" reported -- quote -- "the obama administration is signaling to congress that the president would support taxing some employee health benefits." i appreciate the consideration of such a new proposal, it is not acceptable

John McCain: to turn this into a tax and spend he any new resources derived from changing the existing tax treatment of private health insurance should be devoted to a ir and more efficient mechanism for americans to provide private shall insurance. americans spent over -- spend over $2.4 trillion on health care.

John McCain: health insurance premiums continue to rise as employer based coverage for families increase and medicare and medicaid spend $800 billion. and projected to reac reach $2.7 trillion in 201 should trouble every american

John McCain: and every member of this chamber. last week i spoke special interests are doing to derail a much-needed health reform dealing with prescription drugs. a reform that is very and any member in knows how aisle on policies that are important to the american people. health reform is one issue that

John McCain: fundamentally must be bipartisan. all americans are affected by what we do here. we should be working in a bipaisan manner. so it is with extreme regret that i read in "roll call" this morning about --

John McCain: that the democrat staff threatening democratic lobbies or the organizations they represent against meeting with republicans and that attending meetings with republicans -- quote -- "will be viewed as a hostile act" unquote. this is outrageous. i hope the article is inaccurate. i hope the staff on the other side doesn't view health reform

John McCain: as a process they control by threats and hostilities. i hope we're above that. madam?2 president, i ask unanimous consent, that the roll call article this morning be included in the record at this the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mccain: now, madam president, i'd like to say a few words and i ask unanimous consent for three additional minutes. the presiding offi objection. mr. mccain: madam president,

John McCain: the presiding officer: without objection. mr including a cash for chunkers incentive will eliminate language to keep photos of detainee abuse during the bush administration confidential. madam president, the graham-lieberman amendment that

John McCain: would classify these photos was accepted by voice vote. in other words, any senator who wanted to object or v it could have called for it, instead it was unanimously adopted. now, according call" article i quoted, that provision will be removed from the emergency supplemental.

John McCain: funding for the war wouldn't run out." i think this democratic aide highly underestimates senator lieberman, senator graham and the rest of us. madam president, i had a conversation with general petraeus just the day before yesterday and i believe those conversations are confidential and i asked his -- his agreement to -- quote -- "if these photos

John McCain: are released, it will hm the military to pursue our national security interests and could put american lives in danger. " now that's a serious statement from the most respected military leader that this nation has. and i want to point out something very important. today the president of the

John McCain: united states could issue an executive order classifying those photos and not allowing them t be released. he could do it it's time for the president of the united states to stand up to the left wing of his party for the good of the national security of this nation. so, madam president, i join

John McCain: others that if -- if that supplemental comes over without the provision, which was adopted unanimously by the united states senate to make sure that those photos are not released, because of the harm it america's effort in combating radical islamic extremists throughout the world and put the

John McCain: lives of the men and women serving in the military in greateranger. so i intend to join my friend, senator lieberman and senator graham, in doing everything that we can to oppose such legislation. this war supplemental is battle, war on terrorism, dare i say. it is supposed to help the men

John McCain: and women serving in iraq and afghanistan as they pursue an evil enemy. and freedom in these countries. if these photos made public it will harm their effort and public their lives in danger. madam president, i urge my colleagues to join me in